Determination process and predictive closed-loop control of dosimetry using measurement of skin surface temperature and associated methods

A method for determining a suitable set of parameters for operating a light source within a photo-thermal targeted treatment system for targeting a chromophore embedded in a medium, the method comprising:

• a. cooling a first treatment location;
• b. administering a first set of laser pulses from the light source at the first treatment location, the first set of laser pulses having thermal energy below a known damage threshold of the medium;
• c. tracking skin surface temperatures at the first treatment location at a refresh rate of 25 Hz to 400 Hz while administering the first set of laser pulses;
• d. estimating a relationship between parameters for operating the light source and the skin surface temperature at the first treatment location by fitting the skin surface temperature to a correlation model;
• e. using the correlation model, determining a safe operating range for the parameters for operating the light source to avoid thermal damage to the medium at the first treatment location while still effectively targeting the chromophore;
• f. administering a second set of laser pulses from the light source at the first treatment location, the second set of laser pulses having thermal energy at least at a known damage threshold of the chromophore while staying within the safe operating range for the parameters for operating the light source;
• and
• g. adjusting the parameters for operating the light source according to the tracked skin surface temperatures at the first treatment location to stay within the safe operating range.